The United States and Japan will step up their defence cooperation to deal with the threat from nuclear-armed North Korea as tensions in East Asia remain high, officials from the two allies said on Thursday.

Police raid two Brisbane caravan parks

A police helicopter is taking part in a raid on squatters at two caravan parks in Brisbane's north.

A roadside drug testing facility has been set up and a number of search warrants are being carried out at the caravan parks at Aspley, around 13km north of the city, Queensland Police said in a statement on Wednesday.